Level.



F. W. MERRIMAN.

LEVEL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1910.

1,007,303. Patented 0ct.31, 1911.

Inventor by v 7 I o l Attorneys UNITE STAT FREDERICK WM. MERRIIVIAN, OFALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA.

LEVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

- Application filed December 5, 1910. Serial No. 595,686.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK \V. MERRI- MAN, residing at Alameda, inthe county of Alameda and State of California, have invented a new anduseful Level, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improvedcombined spirit level and plumb embodied in a simple device which may bereadily attached by any one to an ordinary spirit level or othersuitable support.

One aim of the invention is to so construct the device that itsapplication to the body of an ordinary spirit level or other supportwill not necessitate the recessing of the said body nor in fact anychange in its construction.

One feature of the invention resides in the means provided for angularlyadjusting the support for the spirit tube of the device so that the saidsupport may be held in position to indicate level, plumb, and an gularadjustment of the body to which it is attached.

A still further feature of the invention resides in so constructing theattaching plate of the device that it may be angularly adjusted upon thesupport to which it is attached, at the time of its application to thesupport.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofthe device, the same being shown applied to the body of an ordinaryspirit level. Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, Fig. 3 is anelevation of the device removed from the said body of the level andlooking at that side opposite the side shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the reference character L indicates an element whichmay be either the body of a level or some other suitable support for thedevice embodying the present invention, which device is to be placedupon the market as a distinct article of manufacture and is to beapplied to a support such as shown, by the purchaser.

The device of the present invention includes an attaching plate which isindicated by the numeral 5 and while this plate is shown in the drawingsas circular in form, it may be of any other suitable contour. The plateis formed with an opening 6 and opposite this opening with a slotindicated by the numeral 7. In applying the device to the body L, asecuring screw 8 is secured through the opening 6 and into the saidadjusted upon the screw 8 as a pivot as to cause the spirit tube, to bepresently described, to indicate level when adjusted to a predeterminedposition and the body L is disposed upon a level surface. Both screws 8and 9 are then tightened so as to hold the plate 5 at this adjustment.

The spirit tube of the device, indicated by the numeral 10, is fixed ina casing 11 and a pivot pin 12 is secured through this casing at a pointmidway its ends and through the plate 5 at a point midway betweenthe-opening 6 and slot 7 the casing being in this manner supported uponthe plate for angular adjustment. The plate 5 is formed with an arcuateseries of openings 13 and a pin 14 is fitted through one end of thecasing 11 and is adapted to have its extremities seat in the openings 13interchangeably. A collar 15 is secured upon the pin 1 1 and arrangedupon the pin between this collar and one wall of the casing is a spring16 which serves to hold the extremity of the pin in engagement in anyone of the openings 13, as above described. The openings 13 are soarranged that when the pin is seated with its end in one of the openingsat the ends of the series, the spirit tube will be in such position asto indicate level when the body L is disposed upon a level surface and,that when the pin is engaged with its end in the opening at the otherend of the series, the casing 11 will be in a position at right anglesto the position just stated, and consequently the spirit tube 10 will bein position to indicate plumb when the body L is disposed against anelement which is vertical. When the pin is seated with its end in one oranother of the openings between the openings above specifically referredto, the spirit tube 10 will indicate when the member against which theelement L is disposed is at a predetermined angle such for example as atan angle of 45. Also it will be readily understood that after the devicehas been properly applied to such an element, the easing 11 carrying thespirit tube 10 may be adjusted singularly to indicate plumb, level, andangular positions between these tWo points.

hat is claimed is:

In a device of the class described, an attaching plate having itsopposite faces flat and unencumbered throughout their entire extents; aspirit tube pivoted to the plate, the distance from the pivot point ofthe tube to all portions of the periphery of the plate being greaterthan the distances from the pivot point of the tube to either end of thetube; there being an opening in the plate and an elongated slot in theplate, both being adapted for the reception of attaching elements,whereby the plate may be secured to a support; the opening and the slotlying beyond the ends of the tube When the latter is rotated; and meansfor securing the tube in adjusted positions upon the plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FREDERICK l VM. MERRIMAN.

lVitnesses V. H. MoNAUeH'roN, D. MONAUGHTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

